Correlation of inter-occlusal distance and gonial angle in dentate and edentulous patients in Gujarati population

Background: The amount of interocclusal distance in any individual is mainly an expression of muscle function, its equilibrium, and gravity. In some medically compromised patients, it is difficult to determine the interocclusal distance. Aim: This study aims to evaluate the correlation of interocclusal distance and corresponding gonial angle on the lateral profile of dentulous individuals in lateral cephalograms in Gujarati population and correlation of these values for edentulous individuals. Material and methods: A total of 100 individuals were involved in this study within age group of 20-35 years. Interocclusal distance was determined by the difference between the readings of vertical dimension of rest and vertical dimension of occlusion in dentulous individuals.Gonial angle was calculated with the help of cephalometric radiographs and the two were correlated. Results: Range of gonial angle and interocclusal distance were obtained and the mean of the values was derived. A strong correlation was found to exist.Conclusion: By applying the processes of linear regression to the paired results, a formula was obtained which may be used to predict the best value of one variable for any given value of the other. Thus, in an edentulous case, where the value of the interocclusal distance measurement is unknown and difficult to determine, a method is provided for predicting its best value by the determination of the patient's gonial angle through cephalometric analysis.